Just now I was watching a video on this website. Then I realised it was derived from one of my designs! I am flattered and hope he really has fun. He is eventually making a tiny PCB for it.
30 Nov 2025
8m FT8 RX (Sunday)
Today, I am on 8m FT8 RX, more in hope than expectation, using my end-fed long wire antenna. I have no idea of the polar plot on 8m, but it has been used to copy CT, EA and G on 8m FT8.
UPDATE 1455z: No spots.
Time and consciousness
We think of time as absolute, but we experience time differently when we sleep deeply and indeed as we age. It may be that our understanding of time is totally wrong.
5MHz operation
Some years ago I tried WSPR on this band.
As I recall I used the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna and a mains ground. It worked and I got quite a few reports. The auto-ATU in the rig was used to match the random antenna.
Unfortunately, this part of the spectrum is controlled by the military in the UK. As a result, the UK has a fragmented set of allocations and has never adopted the WARC allocation. Although we are allowed more power and more spectrum, I personally would prefer a contiguous, if narrower, allocation at lower power.
To me, it is all too confusing. I suspect many do not use the band because they are confused by the allocations. There is a band plan on the RSGB site.
29 Nov 2025
2m ultra QRP FT8 (Saturday)
Although at 3.2mW I can see my 2m FT8 signal at the grabber at G0LRD, at 26km I cannot see myself on PSKreporter. I shall increase my power until I am I decoded.
UPDATE 1815z: Increased to 6.4mW. No decode.
UPDATE 1829z: Increased to 12mW. Decode appeared on PSKreporter (just).
UPDATE 1837z: Increased to 25mW. Decoding, but not reliably. I think both G0LRD and I have big-wheel omni antennas.
UPDATE 1900z: Increased power to 35mW. No decodes this time.
UPDATE 1917z: Increased power to 45mW. No decodes.The other variable is S/N at the RX. What I am looking for is what level I need to get reliable and repeatable decodes.
UPDATE 1928z: Increased power to 55mW. It would appear that I am being defeated by local noise. No decodes.
UPDATE 1940z: Increased power to 60mW. No decodes.
UPDATE 1958z: Increased power to 65mW. 2 people now spotting me.
UPDATE 2117z: Increased power to 100mW. A surprise QSO with M0WDN at 100mW with a 15dB attenuator in the input of the RX!! The S/N at G0LRD seems to vary widely suggesting he was pointing a beam in a different direction. I have now gone QRT.
Getting harder?
In all the years I have been involved in amateur radio (it started in 1961!) my main interest has been QRP (low power).
In recent years the local noise level especially in urban areas has gone up, mainly because we have more gadgets and chargers. These often use switched mode power supplies which can produce a lot of noise. Taken together these can increase the noise floor. The result is weak signals can be buried in the noise.
Sadly, this means QRP operation can be harder.
The problem is not so much the low power but the noise floor at the receiving end. If you have an electrically quiet QTH, you can still dig these signals out. Such sites are becoming rarer.
Probably there is a power below which it gets much harder. At very low power it is easy to be clobbered by a stronger station as well.
Thinking of the future, I suspect 5W QRP will be a good choice.
Trump pardons drug trafficker
Some times (many times actually) I question the motives of US President Trump.
Allegedly, he has just pardoned the former president of Honduras who was jailed for 45 years on drug trafficking charges. I find this at odds with the "make America great again" movement and keeping drugs out.
Many Americans voted for him, so I would be interested to hear their views.
15m 100mW FT8 (Saturday)
At 1217z, I changed from 100mW 15m WSPR to 15m 100mW FT8. Now, FT8 is about 10dB worse than WSPR, but there is more activity on FT8 these days.
UPDATE 1340z: Just. one spot of me by SP9WTC (1480km). Maybe I am being clobbered by a stronger station? Also, I suspect it is increasingly likely that QRP signals are now buried in noise, making QRP operation harder than it once was. Even with a 15dB attuenuator in circuit right next to the rig I am spotting 119 stations. This suggests an effective power of low watts if they were running 100W.
UPDATE 1708z: Well it helps if you use a 15m antenna! I discovered I was using my 2m big-wheel antenna rather than my end fed HF antenna. So I am surprised to have got any spots with 100mW 15m FT8.
Swaffham Prior
It is unusual having 2 churches in the same churchyard (don't ask me why!) and 2 windmills.
It is a sleepy village on a rare "hill" overlooking the fen.
100mW 15m WSPR (Saturday)
For a complete change I am trying 15m 100mW WSPR.
UPDATE 1117z: Just 6 spots from a station in Austria. These days, although less sensitive, there seems to be far more activity on FT8 than WSPR.
UPDATE 1212z: Still just 6 spots of me from OE3GBB/Q (1233km). If I was starting out, I think you are more likely to have success with QRPP on FT8 rather than WSPR. QSYed to FT8.
Ely Cathedral sun
The cathedral is at the top of the “hill “ and can be seen for miles around.
This was the sun shining through a stained glass window.
28 Nov 2025
2m 5W FT8 (Friday)
At about 1715z, I QSYed tp 2m FT8 with 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.
UPDATE 1841z: Since about 1835z I have been vertically polarised with my V2000 vertical omni. This is fed with CB RG58 coax, so I would guess the ERP is similar. It seems to make little difference which rather supports the scatter theory.
So far 12 stations have spotted me with the furthest EI2FG (565km).
I am convinced this is some kind of scatter.
 |
| Stations spotting my 5W FT8 to the omni |
UPDATE 2125z: 22 stations in 6 countries spotted my 5W FT8 this evening. See map. Now QRT.
Talent
If I had tried to decorate them, they would have looked a mess!
10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1425z.
UPDATE 1522z: 7 stations have spotted me so far. See map.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1425z.
10m 2W FT8 (Friday)
UPDATE 1430z: 335 spots of me. See map of those spotting me. Now QSYed to 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR.
New cafe
Most Thursdays I spend some time in a nearby village whilst my wife attends a class. Usually I go shopping. Yesterday I went to a cafe which served an omelette and coffee at very reasonable prices. Service was good. I shall go there again.
27 Nov 2025
10m 2W FT8 (Thursday)
UPDATE 2105z: So far, 144 stations have spotted me. See map.
UPDATE 2139z: QRT. In the end 146 stations spotted me.
Thursday plans
Probably more 8m FT8 receive again. Yesterday was disappointing with nobody spotted .
26 Nov 2025
Memories?
If you live in the UK I wonder if you remember the French onion men? They were quite common in the 1950s.
They came across from France and travelled across England with onions strung over their shoulders. These onions in a UK supermarket reminded me of them.
Wednesday plans
Probably stick with 8m FT8 receive today. Spots are far fewer than on 6m, but already 3 countries spotted.
25 Nov 2025
Margaret are you grieving?
Today we heard the very sad news that my wife's brother has died. He was in hospital and was in pain. In the end he just slipped away.
At one time it was our parents dying. Now it is those of our generation who are passing away.
I am reminded of this poem by Gerard Mandley Hopkins.
"Márgarét, áre you grÃeving......"
Faroe Islands
A friend of mine on 365project (one photo a day and no connection with Microsoft 365) lives in the Faroe Islands and posts some amazing scenes. At this time of year it must be dark for a lot of the time. At my age I doubt very much I shall get there, but I enjoy the photos.
Black Friday sceptic
In recent years we appear to have adopted this American sales date in the UK. I cannot speak for the rest of Europe. Like Halloween, which was nothing years ago in the UK, this has grown enormously.
The common factor is commercialism. Anything that can help retailers make a profit must now be exploited. Research has shown that retailers often raise prices in the months before Black Friday so we think we are getting a real bargain in the Black Friday sales. I expect there are some exceptions, but do not be fooled. This is ultimately about making profits over a longer period and selling more Black Friday and Halloween merchandise.
As a child I had never heard about Halloween "trick or treat". In my view both Black Friday and making profits from Halloween both stink.
Reconsidering 8m TX permit
At the moment, I am undecided about submitting a new application for an 8m TX permit. I am unlikely ever to need modes except FT8, WSPR and CW and unlikely to need much power. I really just need 40.680-40.683MHz.
The best time would be to get active around February to catch any F2 and then the Es in the spring and summer. Also I might catch some F2 in autumn 2026.
I enjoy experimenting, but don't like the idea of paying. Maybe just one year? Thinking!
8m FT8 RX again (Tuesday)
Yet again, I am trying 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.
UPDATE 1158z: G8VER (66km) and CT7BIZ (1422km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2016z: QRT.
24 Nov 2025
Times Radio on YouTube
Personally, I find the interviews on Times Radio very informative. I aiways advice seeking your news from many sources to avoid bias.
How small can you go?
This is a video about making a really tiny Pixie transceiver and some portable antennas.
Not been on TX today
As today was a family birthday, I was not at home much of the day. Instead, I stayed on 8m FT8 RX all day. I should be on TX on Tuesday.
23 Nov 2025
Ukraine
This is being written before Ukraine, the EU and Britain have responded to President Trump's 28 point peace plan, that seems to be heavily weighed in Russia's favour. I hope a mature discussion ensues and it ends with a fair (to all) settlement.
Personal view : I do not trust President Trump
Many people in the USA voted for President Trump. As far as I am aware, this was fair and they elected the person they wanted. I am in no position to comment on matters in the USA.
However, I am perfectly at liberty to express my personal view of his role on the world stage. Others may think very differently.
On the world stage I personally think President Trump has performed badly. This is my personal view. In the Ukraine and Gaza it would appear that the views of the common people have not been well considered.
He seems to be in the thrall of President Putin, the Israeli government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho and Mohammed bin Salman. I get the impression he sees world stage diplomacy as real estate deals, rather than the lives of real people.
Can the IC-705 be widebanded without uncasing?
As many know I have held a TX permit for 8m in the UK.
In the past I have owned an FT-710 which can be put into "engineering mode" by pressing a combination of buttons without the need to uncase the rig and without invalidating the warranty. This allowed TX on 8m, although I never used the FT-710 outside the amateur bands. Instead I used my FT817ND that was widebanded by MLS. On the FT-710 it meant I could TX on 8m if I needed to, but never did.
I am wondering if there is a similar trick with the IC-705 (i.e. just button presses) which would give me TX on the IC-705 at 8m.
I am aware of the diode mod, but do not want to go inside the rig as I no longer trust my fine motor skills!
8m FT8 receive (Sunday)
My gear was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 1654z: Just G8VER (66km) spotted again. This is the Verulam Club in St.Albans.
If I get no more spots today, I may return to another band tomorrow.
UPDATE 1908z: No further stations spotting me. QRT.
22 Nov 2025
8m FT8 receive (Saturday)
My 8m dipole was taken down some months ago. This afternoon, just for fun, I am on 8m FT8 receive with my end-fed long wire. I have no idea at all how this works on 8m. Let's see if I get any spots. Also, I have no idea how sensitive the IC-705 is at 8m.
UPDATE 1621z: G8VER (66km) spotted. It works.
I remain extremely disappointed that so many PTTs seem to have a very negative attitude to 8m. A few PTTs have granted access to 8m, some for a limited time. As far as I know there have been NO reports of interference caused by those granted access. I object to having to pay to do valuable research especially when my own PTT (OFCOM) seems so negative.
UPDATE 1935z: I shall probably try 8m FT8 RX again tomorrow.
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